Email completed application to lawfacultyassistant@queensu.ca by 5pm on July 31.

Please ensure you read the following before completing or submitting this application: This course involves an on-the-land camp that will take place over four days in the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation Unceded territory. You must be able to attend the following course dates:

• Pre-course seminar (mandatory): Monday September 4, 2023, from 5pm-6:30pm
• Travel: Thursday September 7 (bus leaves from law school at 9am) and Sunday September 10, 2023 (bus arrives back at law school by 7pm).
• Land-based Camp: September 7 – September 10, 2023.

This course is largely experiential, so participation and active involvement is necessary. Of note:

• This course requires spending three nights/four days camping six hours northwest of Kingston on the Niagara Escarpment of Georgian Bay (Cape Croker Park). Camping equipment will be provided to each student (tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, tarps etc.). You are welcome to use your own camping gear, please let Prof. Borrows know if this is your preference. You will receive a list of other packing recommendations (clothing, water bottle, towel etc.).
• All meals and drinks (water) will be provided throughout the course.
• There are no extra fees for this course as financial support is generously provided by the Queen’s Faculty of Law Indigenous Law Special Programs Grant and the Queen’s University Principal’s Impact Course program.
• Many camp activities will be outdoors and are of a physical nature. Students should be prepared for mild to moderate physical exertion, some walking on uneven ground, as well as all sorts of weather (especially rain and cool nighttime temperatures).
• If you have mobility, severe allergies or other needs and are unsure of your ability to participate in the camp setting as a result, you are encouraged to email Professor Borrows. I will strive to make necessary accommodations and may be able to adapt activities on a personalized level to ensure this experience is as inclusive as possible for all.
• Priority for this course will be given to Indigenous students.
• To participate in this course, students must each sign an “Informed Consent and Risk Assumption” form as required by Queen’s University for off-campus learning. This form will be provided to students immediately upon acceptance into the course.
• Please note bus travel time is ~6 hours each way. The charter bus will take two short rest stops and will have a bathroom on board.

Section A: Application Information

Please answer the following questions:

• Name:
• Year of Study:
• Email:
• Telephone:
• Please select if you are Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit), or non-Indigenous

Section B: Background and Statement of Intent

Please answer the following questions in up to 150 words each:

Although no prior experience in Indigenous communities or land-based learning is required for the course, the following information will help with course planning:

• What life experiences do you have that you think would be valuable to this course? Please explain (i.e., community involvement, career, education, volunteer etc.)
• What is your prior experience with camping, if any?
• What interests you most in this course? What do you hope to learn?

Interested students should make known their interest by sending an email jointly to Professors Thomas and Webber (jean.thomas@queensu.ca and gregoire.webber@queensu.ca) outlining their interest in applying for the Colloquium and any relevant academic background. Please note: undergraduate or graduate studies in Philosophy or Political Studies are not prerequisites; nor is a course in legal philosophy.

In addition, in NO MORE than 250 words, please tell us how you would go about answering the question in the following scenario, taken from a paper by Jeremy Waldron.

"We are imagining people living in a state of nature, perhaps gathering together in a village or a community, and they are faced with the possibility of newcomers migrating into and proposing to settle in their vicinity. Could they be justified in driving the newcomers away—for example, by shouting threats at them, throwing rocks, or tearing up their encampments?”

Please submit your application at your earliest opportunity and in any event no later than 5 p.m. on July 31. Decisions will be communicated to applicants shortly thereafter and successful applicants will be registered by the Faculty before enrolment opens for other course selection.  

Queen’s Law Clinics

Postings for Summer Caseworker Positions (2024) and/or Clinical Course Enrolment (2024-25) 

The students of Law ’25 and ’26 (1L and 2L) are invited to apply for full-time summer employment (2024) or course enrolment (2024/2025) at the Queen’s Law Clinics.
    
This is the application process for all five of the Queen’s Law Clinics:

• the Business Law Clinic (QBLC), 
• the Elder Law Clinic (QELC), 
• the Family Law Clinic (QFLC), 
• the Prison Law Clinic (QPLC) and 
• Queen’s Legal Aid (QLA)

Read these instructions thoroughly before completing your application. If you have read these instructions thoroughly and still have questions, direct questions about each of the five Queen’s Law Clinics to the director of the clinic in question and direct questions about the application process to qlcadmin@queensu.ca.

Applicants must have completed either their first or second year of law school (or equivalent) prior to the start of summer employment or enrolment. 

Only students selected for interviews (where applicable) or enrolment will be contacted.  

See below for detailed information under the following headings: 
 

• Summer Employment
• Course Enrolment
• Application Due Date
• Application Process
• Application Process Timeline
• QLC Summer Student Caseworker Position Descriptions
• Important Information

Summer Employment

Work is completed at the QLC office at 5th Floor, LaSalle Mews, 303 Bagot Street, Kingston. 

Pay for summer positions will be approximately $20/hour plus vacation and statutory holiday pay. Students will work for fifteen (15) to seventeen (17) weeks from May through August. Specifics will be provided when a formal offer is made.

Additional information and requirements for summer caseworker positions can be found below within the descriptions provided for each of the five Queen’s Law Clinics. 

 
Course Enrolment

The application process for enrolment in clinical courses takes place outside the normal course selection process. Students cannot add clinical courses through SOLUS.

Detailed information regarding clinical courses, including pre/co-requisites and recommended courses, is available in the course catalogue.

The process of selecting students for enrolment in clinical courses will take place once the summer caseworker positions have all been filled. 

Application Due Date

The application deadline is Monday, February 12, 2024 at 12:00 PM (noon). Late applications will not be considered. 

 
Application Process

To apply for summer employment or enrolment with any of the five Queen’s Law Clinics, follow the steps listed below.

1. Complete one Application Form detailing all summer positions and courses to which you are applying. You will find the one-page QLC Application Form here. The form requires that you list all positions to which you are applying and, where you have applied to more than one of the five Queen’s Law Clinics, that you list them in order of your preference.
2. Save your completed Application Form as a PDF using the following naming protocol: “QLC Application Form” followed by your surname followed by your first name. eg. QLC Application Form, Flood, Colleen.
3. Prepare separate cover letters for each clinic to which you are applying. Address your cover letters to the Director of the clinic (listed in the relevant posting for that clinic, see below). At a minimum, your cover letter must:
   1. outline your reasons for wanting to work at the particular clinic;
   2. summarize your relevant background; and
   3. state whether you are applying for summer employment, enrolment in the clinical course or both.
4. Save each cover letter as a separate PDF using the following naming protocol: “QLC Cover Letter” followed by the initials of the clinic to which the letter is directed (QBLC, QELC, QFLC, QPLC or QLA) and then your surname and your first name. eg. QLC Cover Letter, QFLC, Flood, Colleen.
5. Using your Queen’s e-mail account, send one (1) e-mail message addressed to QLC.Applications@queensu.ca with a subject line noting the clinic(s) to which you are applying. If you are applying to more than one clinic, note the abbreviations of the clinics in alphabetical order and separated by commas. eg. QBLC, QELC, QLA.
6. To be complete, your e-mail to QLC.Applications@queensu.ca must have all of the following attachments: 
   1. Your completed QLC Application Form; 
   2. Separate cover letters for each clinic to which you are applying; 
   3. Your resume; and 
   4. A SOLUS printout of your law school grades (a typed list of practice exam marks if you are in 1st year). 
7. You will receive a return message confirming receipt of your email. If you do not receive that confirmation message within one (1) business day, contact qlcadmin@queensu.ca to follow up.

Application Process Timeline

Applications due: Monday, February 12, 2024, 12:00 PM (noon)

Planned dates for interviews: the week of February 26 to March 1, 2024. 

Offers for summer employment extended by e‐mail: Wednesday March 6, 2024

Replies to offers for summer employment due: Thursday March 7, 2024 by 12:00 PM (noon) following which, the offer expires and is extended to another student

Offers for enrolment: Starting March 13, 2024 and continuing until all spots are filled. 

QLC Summer Student Caseworker Position Descriptions

Queen’s Business Law Clinic (QBLC)

The QBLC will employ three full‐time student caseworkers who will provide pro bono legal services to local entrepreneurs, small businesses and not‐for‐profit organizations. Successful applicants will gain hands‐on experience with client files involving incorporations, corporate governance, drafting of contracts and legal research memos dealing with a range of subject matter under the business and intellectual property law umbrellas. Students will also be involved in the operation of the legal clinic, including client development, and they may be asked to speak to local stakeholder groups on business and intellectual property law issues. Some light travel may be required. Applicants should have a strong academic record and a demonstrated interest in business law. 

Participation in the QBLC summer program will disqualify a student from participation in the credit program (LAW 438A/B) for a subsequent academic year. Participants in the QBLC summer program may be invited to return to enrol in LAW 593A/B QLC Student Leadership to serve as mentors for the academic year following. Students who have taken LAW 438A/B may apply to work at the QBLC for the summer.

Forward any inquiries to and address your cover letter to: QBLC Director, Tomilola Adebiyi (tomilola.adebiyi@queensu.ca)  

Queen’s Elder Law Clinic (QELC)

The QELC will employ three full‐time caseworkers who will provide pro bono legal services for local seniors and other vulnerable members of the community. The successful applicants will be responsible for managing QELC client files, interviewing clients, preparing and advising on simple wills, powers of attorney for personal care, powers of attorney for property, responding to general estate inquires, and preparing applications for Certificates of Appointment of Estate Trustee (With and Without a Will). 

The summer caseworkers will also assist elderly and vulnerable clients with a variety of age‐related issues and inquiries concerning capacity, substitute decision making, rights under current legislation, identifying and addressing misuse or abuse of authority, and effectively communicate with third parties. 

The summer caseworkers will normally be required to attend at other locations in the course of their work, including Kingston General Hospital, Providence Care Hospital, local penitentiaries and local retirement homes or long term care facilities. Access to a car is not required. All student caseworkers will also be involved in developing and conducting community outreach and public legal education sessions.

Applicants should have a strong academic record. Preference will be given to applicants with a demonstrated interest in elder law or serving vulnerable individuals, experience working independently to manage a project, and excellent writing skills.

Participation in the QELC summer program will disqualify a student from participation in the credit program (LAW 695A/B) for a subsequent academic year. Participants in the QELC summer program may be invited to return to enrol in LAW 593A/B QLC Student Leadership as mentors for the academic year following. Students who have taken LAW 695A/B may apply to work for the QELC for the summer.

Please also include the contact information for at least one prior employment reference but you need not submit a reference letter. 

Forward any inquires to and address your cover letter to: QELC Director, Blair Hicks (blair.hicks@queensu.ca)
 

Queen’s Family Law Clinic (QFLC)

The QFLC will employ two full‐time student caseworkers. Successful applicants will spend the summer providing pro bono legal services assisting self‐representing Family Law litigants including with court appearances, completing intake interviews, preparing documents for Family Court and participating in the operation and continued development of the QFLC. Student caseworkers will carry files relating to issues such as decision-making responsibility, parenting time, child support and divorce and will attend regularly at Family Court at 469 Montreal Street. Student caseworkers may be asked to give presentations to local stakeholder groups on issues relating to family justice. 

Students who have taken LAW 527A/B (Queen’s Family Law Clinic) are welcome to apply for the summer student caseworkers positions. Participation in the QFLC summer program will disqualify a student from participation in the credit program (LAW 527A/B) for a subsequent academic year. Participants in the QFLC summer program may be invited to return to enrol in LAW 593A/B QLC Student Leadership for the academic year following.

Applicants should have a strong academic record and excellent writing skills. Preference will be given to applicants with a demonstrated interest in serving vulnerable individuals and experience working independently to manage projects. All students, not just those planning a career in Family Law, are encouraged to apply. 
 
Forward any inquiries to and address your cover letter to: Acting QFLC Director, Linda Smith (llz@queensu.ca). 

Queen’s Prison Law Clinic (QPLC)

The QPLC employs four summer students to provide legal services to prisoners in Kingston area prisons, which includes representing clients at disciplinary court and the Parole Board of Canada, drafting grievances and providing legal advice. Access to a reliable car is required for travel to area prisons; attendance at the prisons will be frequent.

If you are interested in a summer position, your letter of application must contain the following information:

• Whether you will be able to work during a 17 week period April 29 through August
• Languages other than English in which you have oral or written fluency
• Whether or not you will have a reliable car that you can use for work throughout the period April 29 through August
• Whether you will be available to mentor new students in September at client interviews and in disciplinary court for additional paid employment up to approximately 20 hours.

Students who work for the QPLC during the summer are not eligible to take the Clinical Course, Law 418A/B, although they are eligible to apply for Law 419, Advanced Prison Law. Students who have taken Law 418A/B may apply to work for the QPLC for the summer
 
Forward any inquiries to and address your cover letter to: QPLC Director, Kathy Ferreira (kathryn.ferreira@queensu.ca)

Queen’s Legal Aid (QLA)

QLA employs up to ten summer student caseworkers who will each have carriage of approximately 20-24 client files at any one time in all areas of the clinic’s litigation practice, including criminal matters before the Ontario Court of Justice, civil Small Claims Court matters, and files before administrative tribunals including the Landlord and Tenant Board, the Social Benefits Tribunal and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Student caseworkers will also have ongoing file intake and administrative duties during the summer and will be involved in developing and conducting community outreach and public legal education sessions. 

All student caseworkers are required to work during the two week training period at the start of the summer as well as the last week of the summer. Time off will not be approved during these periods.

Student caseworkers remain responsible for client files until the files are reassigned in September. Student caseworkers may also be expected to conduct hearings for any matter for which a hearing is scheduled in September or early October. 

In the academic year following summer employment, student caseworkers must enrol in Law 594A/B, Queen’s Legal Aid Student Leadership, where they will serve as Group Leaders with significant mentoring and training responsibilities.  This means that summer caseworkers cannot participate in a foreign exchange program and must be enrolled at Queen’s Law for the entire academic year after summer employment at QLA. Students are awarded a total of four credits for their participation in this course. This course fulfills either the Advocacy or the Practice Skills requirement of the J.D program. 

Your cover letter should describe your interests and goals as they relate to QLA and should demonstrate a commitment to social justice and poverty law. 

Please also include the contact information for at least one prior employment reference but you need not submit a reference letter. 

A Hiring Committee including one Review Counsel, a QLA staff member, and one current QLA student will review all applications. Student members of the Hiring Committee will not see applicant’s law school grades.
 
Funding for QLA summer positions is primarily provided by Legal Aid Ontario, which encourages QLA to offer clinic‐based employment opportunities to as many different students as possible each year. While students may apply both for summer employment and enrolment in Law 590, the Clinical Litigation Practice (“CLP”) course, students who accept summer employment with QLA cannot enrol in the CLP course.  As such, applicants should clearly indicate in their cover letter whether they are applying for summer employment, for course enrolment, or both, and, if applying for both, whether the student’s preference is for summer employment or for course enrolment.    

Forward any inquiries and address your cover letter to: QLA Director, Blair Crew  (blair.crew@queensu.ca).
 

Practice Skills and Advocacy Requirements: All courses at the QLC meet the practice skills requirement. The advocacy requirement is met only by enrolment in the Family Law Clinic, Prison Law Clinic or Queen’s Legal Aid Clinical Litigation Practice.

Experiential Learning Policy (ELP): Students applying to or accepting positions with the QLC are expected to be familiar with the ELP which is detailed in the Academic Calendar. 

Full-Year Courses: Course credit is provided at the end of the academic year. There is no option for partial credit.  

Accommodations: All accommodations including those for enrolment in QLC courses will be assessed as workplace (rather than academic) accommodations. If you have questions about accommodations, direct those to Queen's Student Accessibility Services. 

Direct any questions about this information to qlcadmin@queensu.ca and you will be redirected to the appropriate person. 
 

Queen’s University has an employment equity program, welcomes diversity in the workplace and encourages applications from all qualified candidates including those from equity-seeking groups such as aboriginal peoples, people with disabilities and racial minorities.

    
When hiring students, the Queen’s Law Clinics gratefully acknowledge the support of Legal Aid Ontario, the Law Foundation of Ontario, the class of Law’81, and alumni and industry sponsors.
 

Please review the TEAM website to ensure you’re familiar with the project and what it entails. Application requirements are provided at the Chemical Engineering website. 

Smith Engineering is not offering the TEAM course in the 2021-22 academic year. However, it may be offered in future years.